Venture Bar
- Thread starter Sean1332
- Start date
jaredmus
Active member
5/5
As everyone knows the protein bar game has recently stepped up big time in flavor, texture and nutrition. Few years back Quest set the bar pretty high and was dominating the protein bar game IMO. A few other companies came out with some pretty decent bars in 2014-2015 and quest continued to add flavors. In early 2015 from what I remember Controlled labs was discussing releasing a bar called Venture bars. I knew if controlled labs was attached to this it would be something pretty good, and with a great profile. This bars final production got pushed back and pushed back and pushed back, I knew they had to be perfecting this bar.
PROFILE/Nutrition 5/5-- plenty of fiber 19 grams , fat under 10, protein 20 . PERFECT IMO
you can look the rest up.
TASTE- 5/5--- IMO this is in fact better than the coconut cashew quest, which is prob my favorite bar out. Right when you open this it look similar to quest bars, had a little bit of smell of coconut. The texture is a tad oily, not dry, anyone who eats a lot of bars Knows what I am talking about, and this is a good thing its fresh and not dried out.
As you bite into it its sweet, and doesn't taste overly processed, it tasted like a coconut cake with a slight hint of almonds to me.
As a whole Short and to the point, I HIGHLY suggest this to anyone looking to try a great new tasting bar, and I WILL BE BUYING more in the future! This gets TWO thumbs up! Nice work on this
As everyone knows the protein bar game has recently stepped up big time in flavor, texture and nutrition. Few years back Quest set the bar pretty high and was dominating the protein bar game IMO. A few other companies came out with some pretty decent bars in 2014-2015 and quest continued to add flavors. In early 2015 from what I remember Controlled labs was discussing releasing a bar called Venture bars. I knew if controlled labs was attached to this it would be something pretty good, and with a great profile. This bars final production got pushed back and pushed back and pushed back, I knew they had to be perfecting this bar.
PROFILE/Nutrition 5/5-- plenty of fiber 19 grams , fat under 10, protein 20 . PERFECT IMO
you can look the rest up.
TASTE- 5/5--- IMO this is in fact better than the coconut cashew quest, which is prob my favorite bar out. Right when you open this it look similar to quest bars, had a little bit of smell of coconut. The texture is a tad oily, not dry, anyone who eats a lot of bars Knows what I am talking about, and this is a good thing its fresh and not dried out.
As you bite into it its sweet, and doesn't taste overly processed, it tasted like a coconut cake with a slight hint of almonds to me.
As a whole Short and to the point, I HIGHLY suggest this to anyone looking to try a great new tasting bar, and I WILL BE BUYING more in the future! This gets TWO thumbs up! Nice work on this
T-Bone
Banned
2/5
I was really looking forward to trying these out. This is for the Coconut Almond flavor. Opened my bar and as others have mentioned it's really greasy. The textures is strange. Kind of like play doh. I taste coconut but it doesn't taste natural. It has sort of an artificial taste to it. Like "Coconut flavor" or "Coconut extract". I can see little specs of almonds in the bar but the Coconut extract flavor is over powering so I can't really taste the nuts. For the life of me I can not taste any almond at all.
Maybe the other flavors are better. I really don't like the texture either so unless the other flavors are extremely good I won't purchase any.
I was really looking forward to trying these out. This is for the Coconut Almond flavor. Opened my bar and as others have mentioned it's really greasy. The textures is strange. Kind of like play doh. I taste coconut but it doesn't taste natural. It has sort of an artificial taste to it. Like "Coconut flavor" or "Coconut extract". I can see little specs of almonds in the bar but the Coconut extract flavor is over powering so I can't really taste the nuts. For the life of me I can not taste any almond at all.
Maybe the other flavors are better. I really don't like the texture either so unless the other flavors are extremely good I won't purchase any.
jathan_howe
Active member
4/5
As T-Bone said, there's definitely a weird texture. However, mine tasted rather enjoyable. I had the chocolate peanut butter fudge flavor
As T-Bone said, there's definitely a weird texture. However, mine tasted rather enjoyable. I had the chocolate peanut butter fudge flavor
smith_69
Well-known member
5/5
Thanks To Controlled Labs for letting me review this- I have eaten my fair share of bars and cookies over the years. There are times during the day that dont allow for a shake or for you to eat a good meal. Cant tell you how many times i have stopped to get gas or go into a convenient shop to get a gallon of milk and wanted something quick to eat, something different. However the supplement industry seems to have fallen short or just pulled the plug on making good quality protein snacks. I don't blame them because most of them are horrible. So these little stores are left to sell bars that you might use for a door stop or to be used to start a fire.
I was hoping to do this review and kept an open mind when these little bars arrived.
The chocolate chip cookie dough proudly offers
Cal- 220 Fat- 9 Carb 30 Protein 20 (WPI) and good fiber and low sodium.
When you open the package it is moist and the smell of cookie dough is present. If you stand it upright, it will bend so imo that is pretty fresh.
There are enough chips in this bar so when you take a bite you will get a few and although the chips are not sweetened; its a protein bar guys!, its still not that bad tasting.
If start eating this and put it down for 5 min and come back, the bar is still chewy and fresh. Happened at work yesterday.
1 bar is filling however yesterday was Lent and no meat. So i did dive into this box! The bar did hit the spot, but I may have over done it!
I had not stomach issues, no headaches, cramps or any issues.
Smell 5/5- dead on for cookie dough
taste 4/5- my only gripe and this is minimal, i wish the chocolate chips were sweetened. That is just my preference- still not bad
aftertaste 0/0- no after taste at all
texture 5/5- fresh and you can even put these in the microwave, just take out of wrapper
appearance 5/5- looks like cookie dough, not a log or brick
size- 4/5- i wish this was a little bigger, maybe down the road, a king size CCD bar, again, personal preference.
price 5/5- right on what others are and imho taste is important especially if its a treat. worth the price
I would buy this again and if I stopped and saw these at a local store, yes i would definitely grab a few.
i am giving this a 5 because the 2 4's are really my own personal requests.
Thanks To Controlled Labs for letting me review this- I have eaten my fair share of bars and cookies over the years. There are times during the day that dont allow for a shake or for you to eat a good meal. Cant tell you how many times i have stopped to get gas or go into a convenient shop to get a gallon of milk and wanted something quick to eat, something different. However the supplement industry seems to have fallen short or just pulled the plug on making good quality protein snacks. I don't blame them because most of them are horrible. So these little stores are left to sell bars that you might use for a door stop or to be used to start a fire.
I was hoping to do this review and kept an open mind when these little bars arrived.
The chocolate chip cookie dough proudly offers
Cal- 220 Fat- 9 Carb 30 Protein 20 (WPI) and good fiber and low sodium.
When you open the package it is moist and the smell of cookie dough is present. If you stand it upright, it will bend so imo that is pretty fresh.
There are enough chips in this bar so when you take a bite you will get a few and although the chips are not sweetened; its a protein bar guys!, its still not that bad tasting.
If start eating this and put it down for 5 min and come back, the bar is still chewy and fresh. Happened at work yesterday.
1 bar is filling however yesterday was Lent and no meat. So i did dive into this box! The bar did hit the spot, but I may have over done it!
I had not stomach issues, no headaches, cramps or any issues.
Smell 5/5- dead on for cookie dough
taste 4/5- my only gripe and this is minimal, i wish the chocolate chips were sweetened. That is just my preference- still not bad
aftertaste 0/0- no after taste at all
texture 5/5- fresh and you can even put these in the microwave, just take out of wrapper
appearance 5/5- looks like cookie dough, not a log or brick
size- 4/5- i wish this was a little bigger, maybe down the road, a king size CCD bar, again, personal preference.
price 5/5- right on what others are and imho taste is important especially if its a treat. worth the price
I would buy this again and if I stopped and saw these at a local store, yes i would definitely grab a few.
i am giving this a 5 because the 2 4's are really my own personal requests.
Driven2lift
Legend
I also grabbed the Coconut Almond as my top choice
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Ingredients are reminiscent of Quest bars, macros are very comparable, and I will be honest I quite enjoyed Quest Coconut bars, so this had a bar set to beat.
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So how was it?
I will say that I am glad Controlled Labs was so generous as to send a whole box because me and my girlfriend both enjoyed our first bar and are looking forward to having the rest.
I will say that I had seen another review claiming it was oily, as someone who has had all generations of Quest now I would say my experience with "oiliness" lol was no issue for me.
Check out my bar image below.
I am very used to low calorie desserts, sweeteners, etc. so I am more likely to enjoy it than those less conditioned.
I found it very sweet, the sweetest I have had a coconut product before, but I enjoyed it. If you like sweet, and coconut, this is a winner.
The almond is masked, and there was the odd crunch but not a lot of pieces IMO. You can't expect an almond to come through over this though. Maybe with almond extract it could.
I didn't get an after-taste, but the coconut definitely does linger on your palate a while after eating. Nothing I would call bad.
I plan to try more ways of enjoying it as well, and will keep checking in
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Because I liked the sweet coconut, and factoring in macros and everything, 8/10 for me, I could eat these as snacks.
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Ingredients are reminiscent of Quest bars, macros are very comparable, and I will be honest I quite enjoyed Quest Coconut bars, so this had a bar set to beat.
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So how was it?
I will say that I am glad Controlled Labs was so generous as to send a whole box because me and my girlfriend both enjoyed our first bar and are looking forward to having the rest.
I will say that I had seen another review claiming it was oily, as someone who has had all generations of Quest now I would say my experience with "oiliness" lol was no issue for me.
Check out my bar image below.
I am very used to low calorie desserts, sweeteners, etc. so I am more likely to enjoy it than those less conditioned.
I found it very sweet, the sweetest I have had a coconut product before, but I enjoyed it. If you like sweet, and coconut, this is a winner.
The almond is masked, and there was the odd crunch but not a lot of pieces IMO. You can't expect an almond to come through over this though. Maybe with almond extract it could.
I didn't get an after-taste, but the coconut definitely does linger on your palate a while after eating. Nothing I would call bad.
I plan to try more ways of enjoying it as well, and will keep checking in
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Because I liked the sweet coconut, and factoring in macros and everything, 8/10 for me, I could eat these as snacks.
Driven2lift
Legend
smith_69
Well-known member
Hey D-
i noticed on my wrapper it mentions you can put them in the microwave for 10-12 seconds- not sure if it mentions that on your flavor- i have the cookie dough- i did this, oh mama
Driven2lift
Legend
Yep that's always great, will do it with at least one for sure
smith_69
Well-known member
yea, you might want to before the box disappears - lol
KlutzyLifter
New member
Admittedly I think this was my second protein bar ever so I might not be the best judge but I thought these were great. Chewy, sweet and filling!
7/10 but only because I'm not super big on coconut
7/10 but only because I'm not super big on coconut
anab0lix
Member
3/5 Coconut Almond flavor
The flavor is on point. Was really surprised at how good it tasted.
I did the recommended 10 second microwave tip and well while I don't know if it actually helped or not but it did taste great!
The biggest downfall is that it is way too chewy. It's not the typical rock hard protein bar but more of a never ending nougat consistency. I had to keep on chewing and chewing and it was getting stuck to my teeth too much.
I think if you guys get the consistency a little better, it would be amazing.
Thank you for the sample.
The flavor is on point. Was really surprised at how good it tasted.
I did the recommended 10 second microwave tip and well while I don't know if it actually helped or not but it did taste great!
The biggest downfall is that it is way too chewy. It's not the typical rock hard protein bar but more of a never ending nougat consistency. I had to keep on chewing and chewing and it was getting stuck to my teeth too much.
I think if you guys get the consistency a little better, it would be amazing.
Thank you for the sample.
Driven2lift
Legend
It really was soft! Like softer than I would ever be lucky enough to find a Quest bar.
Wonder if the shelf life keeps them soft long term
Wonder if the shelf life keeps them soft long term
Quads_of_Stee
Well-known member
5/5
I did enjoy these bars. They are higher on the fat value and have an oil-like coating on the outside of these bars (Rise bars have the same thing) but are super soft delicious and chewy. Imagine a quest bar that is a bit more soft and chewy (with a bit more oil).
I got the pb fudge flavor and there is a nice balance of the flavors with neither taking over imo
I did enjoy these bars. They are higher on the fat value and have an oil-like coating on the outside of these bars (Rise bars have the same thing) but are super soft delicious and chewy. Imagine a quest bar that is a bit more soft and chewy (with a bit more oil).
I got the pb fudge flavor and there is a nice balance of the flavors with neither taking over imo
The Solution
Legend
4/5
Taste
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - There are lots of these bars out on the market. Some are good, some fall short on the CCCD Flavoring, and some are middle of the road. Upon first bite you get a small aftertaste of cookie dough. Nothing is very strong or prominent, but nothing too weak to not be noticed. Compared to Mission 1 and Fit Crunch CCCD bars which lack cookie dough flavor, this provides a good combination of chocolate and cookie dough to find a happy medium. Not as good as the old school quest bars, but a good tasting bar.
Texture
Upon opening the wrapper it is a oily. The bar is soft, and I would consider it a good mix between a harder mission 1 bar and a softer quest bar. The outer shell is similar to the cake like consistency of the inside of a fit crunch bar and combat crunch bar. These are great right out of the wrapper and would not need to be heated to be a great tasting bar right out of the wrapper.
Profile
9g Fat, 30g Carbs, and 20g Protein with 20g of fiber.
First ingredient is prebiotic Fiber, then WPI, Almond Butter (in a CCCD bar?), Chocolate Chps, Cocoa Extract, Coconut Oil and flavored with Stevia.
Pro's:
- Meets 67g/69g weight
- Good Macros + Ingredient Profile
- Great bar texture. Does not even need heated. Stronger than a Mission 1 Bar and not as hard as some quest bars.
- Good Flavor and both aspects can be tasted, one does not overpower the other.
Con's:
- Oily Texture
- Lacks chocolate chip's (had 3 total)
- Chocolate Chip Flavor could be stronger
Taste
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - There are lots of these bars out on the market. Some are good, some fall short on the CCCD Flavoring, and some are middle of the road. Upon first bite you get a small aftertaste of cookie dough. Nothing is very strong or prominent, but nothing too weak to not be noticed. Compared to Mission 1 and Fit Crunch CCCD bars which lack cookie dough flavor, this provides a good combination of chocolate and cookie dough to find a happy medium. Not as good as the old school quest bars, but a good tasting bar.
Texture
Upon opening the wrapper it is a oily. The bar is soft, and I would consider it a good mix between a harder mission 1 bar and a softer quest bar. The outer shell is similar to the cake like consistency of the inside of a fit crunch bar and combat crunch bar. These are great right out of the wrapper and would not need to be heated to be a great tasting bar right out of the wrapper.
Profile
9g Fat, 30g Carbs, and 20g Protein with 20g of fiber.
First ingredient is prebiotic Fiber, then WPI, Almond Butter (in a CCCD bar?), Chocolate Chps, Cocoa Extract, Coconut Oil and flavored with Stevia.
Pro's:
- Meets 67g/69g weight
- Good Macros + Ingredient Profile
- Great bar texture. Does not even need heated. Stronger than a Mission 1 Bar and not as hard as some quest bars.
- Good Flavor and both aspects can be tasted, one does not overpower the other.
Con's:
- Oily Texture
- Lacks chocolate chip's (had 3 total)
- Chocolate Chip Flavor could be stronger
machinehead
Well-known member
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Microwaved I find them edible. I suspect the low sodium, 55mg per bar, adds to the forgettable taste and strong aftertaste. I am ok with the chewiness.
1/5 Fresh
2/5 Microwaved CCCD and CAD, 3/5 for the CPBF
Microwaved I find them edible. I suspect the low sodium, 55mg per bar, adds to the forgettable taste and strong aftertaste. I am ok with the chewiness.
1/5 Fresh
2/5 Microwaved CCCD and CAD, 3/5 for the CPBF
mattierocks
Active member
4/5
Sadly, I didn't get chosen for a box of Venture bars but I did receive a free sample bar in the mail today. It barely made it in the house before I tore into it.
I got Coconut Almond, which would have been my last choice of the flavors but I was pleasantly surprised. I actually enjoyed the subtle mix of the coconut and almond. The texture, straight out of the mailbox, was pretty good too.
I took a bite of it right out of the wrapper first, but then microwaved it for 10 seconds. It changed the interaction of the flavors slightly, but in a pleasant way. It also changed the texture to something akin to a much chewier cookie dough. Again, pleasant. Especially since it was warm.
Overall I think these compare pretty favorably to Quest bars and I can see buying these as an option when I want a bar.
I will very likely try the other flavors as I have the opportunity. Thanks Sean1332 for the chance to sample a bar!
Sadly, I didn't get chosen for a box of Venture bars but I did receive a free sample bar in the mail today. It barely made it in the house before I tore into it.
I got Coconut Almond, which would have been my last choice of the flavors but I was pleasantly surprised. I actually enjoyed the subtle mix of the coconut and almond. The texture, straight out of the mailbox, was pretty good too.
I took a bite of it right out of the wrapper first, but then microwaved it for 10 seconds. It changed the interaction of the flavors slightly, but in a pleasant way. It also changed the texture to something akin to a much chewier cookie dough. Again, pleasant. Especially since it was warm.
Overall I think these compare pretty favorably to Quest bars and I can see buying these as an option when I want a bar.
I will very likely try the other flavors as I have the opportunity. Thanks Sean1332 for the chance to sample a bar!
LLN
Active member
3/5
I'm a fan of Controlled Labs, have bought more White Rapids than is sensible, and am thankful to them for sending out samples....however these bars are a disappointment (especially after such a long wait).
I received the coconut flavor. The taste is decent, but a very large problem is texture. Think of taking a laffy taffy, storing it in your pocket while you walk around, and consuming it afterwards. Too soft and mushy. These are not "like Quest bars used to be".
Greasiness comments are also true, yet I'd be willing to overlook that if taste and texture got dialed in. Hope that a revision is coming down the line...follow the Quest example of revising what is necessary.
I'm a fan of Controlled Labs, have bought more White Rapids than is sensible, and am thankful to them for sending out samples....however these bars are a disappointment (especially after such a long wait).
I received the coconut flavor. The taste is decent, but a very large problem is texture. Think of taking a laffy taffy, storing it in your pocket while you walk around, and consuming it afterwards. Too soft and mushy. These are not "like Quest bars used to be".
Greasiness comments are also true, yet I'd be willing to overlook that if taste and texture got dialed in. Hope that a revision is coming down the line...follow the Quest example of revising what is necessary.
kenpoengineer
Well-known member
Fast shipping Controlled Labs! Received my Venture Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge sample today.
Consistency 4/5
The bar is greasy as others have stated, but that only affects your fingers. The texture was spot on for me with a nice dose of nuts.
Soft and slightly chewy. Same consistency as Quest CCCD.
Taste 5/5
Really tasted like a fudge/peanut butter brownie. I really like the taste.
Consistency 4/5
The bar is greasy as others have stated, but that only affects your fingers. The texture was spot on for me with a nice dose of nuts.
Soft and slightly chewy. Same consistency as Quest CCCD.
Taste 5/5
Really tasted like a fudge/peanut butter brownie. I really like the taste.
ryanhalterman
New member
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Received my sample CCCD Venture bar today
Taste: 5/5
Very soft and chewy bar. More oily than most other protein bars. Loved how it taste. Could use a few more chocolate chips in it. Not as many as I'd like in there. Other than that it'll definitely be a protein bar that I will continue to get. Controlled labs makes a great bar!
Received my sample CCCD Venture bar today
Taste: 5/5
Very soft and chewy bar. More oily than most other protein bars. Loved how it taste. Could use a few more chocolate chips in it. Not as many as I'd like in there. Other than that it'll definitely be a protein bar that I will continue to get. Controlled labs makes a great bar!
puccah8808
Legend
Wow! I'm just.... Wow!
Taste: 5/5
Texture: 5/5
Flavor: 5/5
I truly enjoyed this bar and I'm picky as hell! The flavor was amazing. The texture was awesome. It was sweet but not too sweet. I honestly couldn't find any cons to this bar at all. You guys put a lot of time and effort into this product and it shows! Great job, guys! Thank you again for the opportunity to test them out.
Oh and I got the coconut one!
Taste: 5/5
Texture: 5/5
Flavor: 5/5
I truly enjoyed this bar and I'm picky as hell! The flavor was amazing. The texture was awesome. It was sweet but not too sweet. I honestly couldn't find any cons to this bar at all. You guys put a lot of time and effort into this product and it shows! Great job, guys! Thank you again for the opportunity to test them out.
Oh and I got the coconut one!
Misfit28
Well-known member
4/5
Hi Guys,
I want to thank Sean1332 and CL for hooking me up with an ENTIRE BOX of Venture Bars. In true CL fashion, I was expecting 6 but got 12
I got the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge flavor.
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REVIEW:
Macros: 5/5
Couldn't ask for better here. Comparable to Quest and other protein bars in this category. Good amount of protein (as Whey Isolate) and good fiber content. I also liked the coconut oil as an ingredient. This is e****lent.
Taste: 3/5
This was a decent flavor, but IMO not much Peanut Butter flavor. The fudge comes through more for me in these, with a more rich flavor being the most dominant aspect. It does have some actual peanuts in it, as you can see from the picture. The oft mentioned oiliness aspect is also apparent in the photos
I will say that I have tried them right out of the package, and also tried them in the microwave for about 10 seconds. I like dthe microwaved better, it seemed to bring out some more flavor.
I also detected some of the artificial sweeteners as well, but that was expected.
My 8 year old son also liked these, which is a plus. However, he hasn't asked for a second one, so maybe he didn't like it as much as he said at first
Texture: 4/5
Good texture, just a bit of oiliness. The texture, especially when heated, reminds me of actual fudge. I like that. I love fudge during the holidays. The oiliness could be offputting for some, but it doesn't have enough to stain clothing or anything.
I can definitely see myself buying these, and I really need to try the Coconut flavor next. It is a tossup for me as to which I normally prefer, so I'll have to test it out as well
It's great to have another healthy option for a protein bar! Great job, CL!
Hi Guys,
I want to thank Sean1332 and CL for hooking me up with an ENTIRE BOX of Venture Bars. In true CL fashion, I was expecting 6 but got 12
I got the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge flavor.
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REVIEW:
Macros: 5/5
Couldn't ask for better here. Comparable to Quest and other protein bars in this category. Good amount of protein (as Whey Isolate) and good fiber content. I also liked the coconut oil as an ingredient. This is e****lent.
Taste: 3/5
This was a decent flavor, but IMO not much Peanut Butter flavor. The fudge comes through more for me in these, with a more rich flavor being the most dominant aspect. It does have some actual peanuts in it, as you can see from the picture. The oft mentioned oiliness aspect is also apparent in the photos
I will say that I have tried them right out of the package, and also tried them in the microwave for about 10 seconds. I like dthe microwaved better, it seemed to bring out some more flavor.
I also detected some of the artificial sweeteners as well, but that was expected.
My 8 year old son also liked these, which is a plus. However, he hasn't asked for a second one, so maybe he didn't like it as much as he said at first
Texture: 4/5
Good texture, just a bit of oiliness. The texture, especially when heated, reminds me of actual fudge. I like that. I love fudge during the holidays. The oiliness could be offputting for some, but it doesn't have enough to stain clothing or anything.
I can definitely see myself buying these, and I really need to try the Coconut flavor next. It is a tossup for me as to which I normally prefer, so I'll have to test it out as well
It's great to have another healthy option for a protein bar! Great job, CL!
ahawk01
Banned
Venture Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter Review.
Taste
This bar is set up to compete against the quest bar type of protein bars. Most of those vita fiber type bars are too hard and make eating it a chore. I don't enjoy them and takes away from the taste. I like the fact I get both chocolate and peanut butter taste. It has little nut pieces throughout which are a nice touch. 4/5
Overall this is a tasty alternative for quest bar fans. It's softer version and flavor is on point. I would purchase and recommend as an alternative to quest. It's high up on my protein bar list! 4/5
Taste
This bar is set up to compete against the quest bar type of protein bars. Most of those vita fiber type bars are too hard and make eating it a chore. I don't enjoy them and takes away from the taste. I like the fact I get both chocolate and peanut butter taste. It has little nut pieces throughout which are a nice touch. 4/5
Overall this is a tasty alternative for quest bar fans. It's softer version and flavor is on point. I would purchase and recommend as an alternative to quest. It's high up on my protein bar list! 4/5
nicksox15
Well-known member
4/5
Thanks to CL for sending this over. I tested the Coconut almond bar. As others have stated it's a bit oily when opening but not a big deal and doesn't affect taste. Macros are good, like the amount of protein per bar.
Taste was good, didn't notice the almond as much as the coconut but that's not a bad thing. Consistency was a bit weird but didn't affect the taste. I'm excited to taste the other bars!
Thanks to CL for sending this over. I tested the Coconut almond bar. As others have stated it's a bit oily when opening but not a big deal and doesn't affect taste. Macros are good, like the amount of protein per bar.
Taste was good, didn't notice the almond as much as the coconut but that's not a bad thing. Consistency was a bit weird but didn't affect the taste. I'm excited to taste the other bars!
AntM1564
Legend
4/5
[size=+3]AntM Reviews Controlled Labs Venture Bars/[/size]
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Profile
The profile is very similar to the leading protein bars out there currently. The bar is 67 grams, a little larger than a Quest or Mission 1 Bar. The bar contains 230 cals 10g of fat, 28g of carbs, 18g of fiber and 20g of protein. Depending on the flavor, macros will be a little different, but they are in the same ballpark.
Price
Venture Bars are priced around $22-$25 a box, which is the same price as Quest and Mission 1 Bars.
Texture/consistency
The bar is softer than a Quest Bar and a touch softer than the Mission 1 bars. With those two bars, if I have one straight out of the wrapper, I need to keep it in my pocket to make it softer. That is not needed with the Venture Bar. However, it does take on a laffy taffy texture in terms of chewiness. For the sake of this review, I did not warm it up or keep it in my pocket prior to eating it. I think if I had it in my pocket, it would not have been as chewy. The texture is also pretty much the same. It is that smooth bar with some mix ins, in this case peanuts. I do like the addition of peanuts because one, I like the flavor and two, it gives the bar some texture and breaks up the monotonous smooth texture. However, I wish there were more peanuts in the bar.
Taste
This is the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge flavor. I am not the biggest fan of chocolate, but I love peanut butter. I can tolerate chocolate when there is enough peanut butter. With that said, there is enough peanut butter flavor. I would say the combo is 65/35 in terms of chocolate to peanut butter. Although when you get a peanut in the bite, I would say the ratio goes to 60/40. This is why I would like more peanut mix ins.
As soon as I took a bite, I was hit with peanut butter. My tastes buds love that. The more I chewed, the more the chocolate would come through and the peanut butter flavor would dissipate. Every single bite was like that. I only wish the peanut butter flavor stayed throughout the entire experience.
Overall
My rating is taking into consideration the bar and the flavor. First, the bar is great. It is priced nicely, macro friendly and has a great taste. I do enjoy the flavor, the chocolate is not overwhelming and the peanut butter is not hidden. I just wish there was more peanut butter.
I would make one change to this bar and I believe this single change would change the bar in two ways. I would add more peanut mix ins. I believe this would make for a better experience. I can't lie, but I enjoy the texture of NuGo, Carb Killa, Fit Crunch and Detour bars more because they have a crunch to them. There is texture to the bar that Quest, Mission 1 and Venture bars do not have, In addition, I believe that the extra peanuts would add more peanut butter flavor to the bar. I still have the give Venture bars an 8.5, I knew what the bars would be, texture wise, so I cannot take points off for that. This flavor falls just short of perfect in my book, mostly due to flavor preference. 8.5/10
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Profile
The profile is very similar to the leading protein bars out there currently. The bar is 67 grams, a little larger than a Quest or Mission 1 Bar. The bar contains 230 cals 10g of fat, 28g of carbs, 18g of fiber and 20g of protein. Depending on the flavor, macros will be a little different, but they are in the same ballpark.
Price
Venture Bars are priced around $22-$25 a box, which is the same price as Quest and Mission 1 Bars.
Texture/consistency
The bar is softer than a Quest Bar and a touch softer than the Mission 1 bars. With those two bars, if I have one straight out of the wrapper, I need to keep it in my pocket to make it softer. That is not needed with the Venture Bar. However, it does take on a laffy taffy texture in terms of chewiness. For the sake of this review, I did not warm it up or keep it in my pocket prior to eating it. I think if I had it in my pocket, it would not have been as chewy. The texture is also pretty much the same. It is that smooth bar with some mix ins, in this case peanuts. I do like the addition of peanuts because one, I like the flavor and two, it gives the bar some texture and breaks up the monotonous smooth texture. However, I wish there were more peanuts in the bar.
Taste
This is the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge flavor. I am not the biggest fan of chocolate, but I love peanut butter. I can tolerate chocolate when there is enough peanut butter. With that said, there is enough peanut butter flavor. I would say the combo is 65/35 in terms of chocolate to peanut butter. Although when you get a peanut in the bite, I would say the ratio goes to 60/40. This is why I would like more peanut mix ins.
As soon as I took a bite, I was hit with peanut butter. My tastes buds love that. The more I chewed, the more the chocolate would come through and the peanut butter flavor would dissipate. Every single bite was like that. I only wish the peanut butter flavor stayed throughout the entire experience.
Overall
My rating is taking into consideration the bar and the flavor. First, the bar is great. It is priced nicely, macro friendly and has a great taste. I do enjoy the flavor, the chocolate is not overwhelming and the peanut butter is not hidden. I just wish there was more peanut butter.
I would make one change to this bar and I believe this single change would change the bar in two ways. I would add more peanut mix ins. I believe this would make for a better experience. I can't lie, but I enjoy the texture of NuGo, Carb Killa, Fit Crunch and Detour bars more because they have a crunch to them. There is texture to the bar that Quest, Mission 1 and Venture bars do not have, In addition, I believe that the extra peanuts would add more peanut butter flavor to the bar. I still have the give Venture bars an 8.5, I knew what the bars would be, texture wise, so I cannot take points off for that. This flavor falls just short of perfect in my book, mostly due to flavor preference. 8.5/10
MidwestBeast
Legend
4/5
I was lucky enough to be selected to sample the chocolate peanut butter flavor of these. Through my own means, I managed to procure both chocolate chip cookie dough and coconut almond, also.
The ingredients and macros are solid on these across the board. I don't take lunch at work, because it allows me to leave earlier. So, during my at work hours, I normally live off of protein shakes and bars (I only eat twice while I'm at work, normally). I often opt for shakes just to keep calories down to afford myself more flexibility at dinner, so I'm picky when it comes to adding in a protein bar and more calories.
The texture of all 3 flavors was the same, to me. It is definitely soft, which is a big plus. And the "oily" texture everyone has mentioned is certainly noticeable, though it's not a positive or negative to me; just something that I observed. One thing that I enjoyed with these over Quest is that it wasn't crumbling apart and falling onto the floor as I ate it (I've lost many good chocolate chips that way lol).
The chocolate peanut butter flavor was good, albeit subtle. The hidden gem was the peanut mix-in chunks, though I wish there were more of them.
With the one cookie dough bar I tried, I managed to get a good amount of chocolate chips. I'm not sure if this is a bar-by-bar thing, or if they'll all be like that. But I was pleased with the amount. Again, the flavor is good; just not nearly strong enough.
Coconut almond had the strongest SCENT out of all 3. With this one, though, it was a smooth and chewy bar without and mix-ins to break that up. Again, muted flavor, but good.
So I believe the biggest takeaways here are that the flavors for all 3 are good; they just need to be stronger. The best example I can come up with is the term "muted." The flavor is there, I'm just not able to get as much of it as I'd like. And adding some mix-ins to the coconut almond (and more to the chocolate peanut butter) will give the texture the variation that it truly needs to thrive.
A very big thanks to Sean and Controlled Labs for allowing me to sample these. Very happy to see CL stepping into the protein bar market.
I was lucky enough to be selected to sample the chocolate peanut butter flavor of these. Through my own means, I managed to procure both chocolate chip cookie dough and coconut almond, also.
The ingredients and macros are solid on these across the board. I don't take lunch at work, because it allows me to leave earlier. So, during my at work hours, I normally live off of protein shakes and bars (I only eat twice while I'm at work, normally). I often opt for shakes just to keep calories down to afford myself more flexibility at dinner, so I'm picky when it comes to adding in a protein bar and more calories.
The texture of all 3 flavors was the same, to me. It is definitely soft, which is a big plus. And the "oily" texture everyone has mentioned is certainly noticeable, though it's not a positive or negative to me; just something that I observed. One thing that I enjoyed with these over Quest is that it wasn't crumbling apart and falling onto the floor as I ate it (I've lost many good chocolate chips that way lol).
The chocolate peanut butter flavor was good, albeit subtle. The hidden gem was the peanut mix-in chunks, though I wish there were more of them.
With the one cookie dough bar I tried, I managed to get a good amount of chocolate chips. I'm not sure if this is a bar-by-bar thing, or if they'll all be like that. But I was pleased with the amount. Again, the flavor is good; just not nearly strong enough.
Coconut almond had the strongest SCENT out of all 3. With this one, though, it was a smooth and chewy bar without and mix-ins to break that up. Again, muted flavor, but good.
So I believe the biggest takeaways here are that the flavors for all 3 are good; they just need to be stronger. The best example I can come up with is the term "muted." The flavor is there, I'm just not able to get as much of it as I'd like. And adding some mix-ins to the coconut almond (and more to the chocolate peanut butter) will give the texture the variation that it truly needs to thrive.
A very big thanks to Sean and Controlled Labs for allowing me to sample these. Very happy to see CL stepping into the protein bar market.
booneman77
Legend
2/5
Chocolate PB Fudge - I'm very sorry to say, but I thought it was terrible. Not counting the oily texture (which really I don't care about), the flavor was peanuts and plastic... There was no semblance of "fudge" and the chocolate tastes so fake I thought I was eating brown plastic. Add to that the fact that these are 30-50+ cals more than a comparable quest bar and I am utterly stunned at the overall product. The only positive (and a slight one at that) for me was the texture of the bar as it was an ok level of softness. I would prefer something a tad chewier though as I want to actually feel like I've eaten something. Otherwise I would just have a shake and save the cals for better food. The last odd thing was the fact that the bar got all stuck to my teeth... Extremely annoying.
0/5 - Would never buy
Chocolate chip cookie dough - This was MUCH better than the cpbf I had last night. It's not nearly as sweet as most other cccd flavored bars I've had which was a minus for me. Also the consistency (as expected) was the same and still sticks to your teeth. On the plus side, this didn't taste like plastic but rather a light, semi sweet choc chip cookie. There were quite a few chips in the one o had which added a nice texture even though the chips themselves had almost zero flavor. Definitely unsweetened ones at that.
Comparing these to my favorite of the quest flavors, I still give a heavy handed edge to quest. They have better macros (30 cals less, 1g more protein) as well as a much sweeter flavor and more chunks/chips per bar.
Unfortunately, I will not be buying these as they were overall underwhelming from a variety of aspects. While the box I have I will eat, they won't be getting thrown down nightly as I just can't see myself craving this flavor.
So I wanted to come back and add to my previous review on the cccd a bit since I've eaten quite a few over the last couple days. I have to say that the flavor is growing on me. Still not my favorite, and would not be anywhere near a top choice, but not unenjoyable.
2/5 - would consider buying if nothing else was available.
Overall, an ok flavor, ok profile, and just generally average at best.
Chocolate PB Fudge - I'm very sorry to say, but I thought it was terrible. Not counting the oily texture (which really I don't care about), the flavor was peanuts and plastic... There was no semblance of "fudge" and the chocolate tastes so fake I thought I was eating brown plastic. Add to that the fact that these are 30-50+ cals more than a comparable quest bar and I am utterly stunned at the overall product. The only positive (and a slight one at that) for me was the texture of the bar as it was an ok level of softness. I would prefer something a tad chewier though as I want to actually feel like I've eaten something. Otherwise I would just have a shake and save the cals for better food. The last odd thing was the fact that the bar got all stuck to my teeth... Extremely annoying.
0/5 - Would never buy
Chocolate chip cookie dough - This was MUCH better than the cpbf I had last night. It's not nearly as sweet as most other cccd flavored bars I've had which was a minus for me. Also the consistency (as expected) was the same and still sticks to your teeth. On the plus side, this didn't taste like plastic but rather a light, semi sweet choc chip cookie. There were quite a few chips in the one o had which added a nice texture even though the chips themselves had almost zero flavor. Definitely unsweetened ones at that.
Comparing these to my favorite of the quest flavors, I still give a heavy handed edge to quest. They have better macros (30 cals less, 1g more protein) as well as a much sweeter flavor and more chunks/chips per bar.
Unfortunately, I will not be buying these as they were overall underwhelming from a variety of aspects. While the box I have I will eat, they won't be getting thrown down nightly as I just can't see myself craving this flavor.
So I wanted to come back and add to my previous review on the cccd a bit since I've eaten quite a few over the last couple days. I have to say that the flavor is growing on me. Still not my favorite, and would not be anywhere near a top choice, but not unenjoyable.
2/5 - would consider buying if nothing else was available.
Overall, an ok flavor, ok profile, and just generally average at best.
Rocket3015
Legend
4/5
I had my first Venture Bar today, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, I would say is was a 4 out of 5, The taste was good but I would have liked a little more Cookie dough flavor. I like the 20 grams of fiber and the 20 grams of Protein. Would I buy these again YES.
I had my first Venture Bar today, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, I would say is was a 4 out of 5, The taste was good but I would have liked a little more Cookie dough flavor. I like the 20 grams of fiber and the 20 grams of Protein. Would I buy these again YES.
Driven2lift
Legend
EMPIREMIND
Well-known member
5/5
I took these on my recent trip to the carribean. I packed a bunch of bars and had them on the plane, in the car, whenever i needed a snack. I have been a huge fan of quest, and really like the high fiber bars because i run a keto based diet.
Ingredient wise these bars are top notch. Whey, almond butter, high fiber. Great sources of protein and fats.
I love the taste of these bars. I had chocolate chip cookie dough. I really like the taste of it. The chocolate chips are great, the texture is very chewy. The thing i liked most about these and why they are a 5 star for me is how well they kept me satiated. One bar cut my hunger for hours on my plane ride. That to me is perfect and makes this a very valuable weapon in my dieting arsenal. Hats off to controlled labs, venture bars are e****lent.
I took these on my recent trip to the carribean. I packed a bunch of bars and had them on the plane, in the car, whenever i needed a snack. I have been a huge fan of quest, and really like the high fiber bars because i run a keto based diet.
Ingredient wise these bars are top notch. Whey, almond butter, high fiber. Great sources of protein and fats.
I love the taste of these bars. I had chocolate chip cookie dough. I really like the taste of it. The chocolate chips are great, the texture is very chewy. The thing i liked most about these and why they are a 5 star for me is how well they kept me satiated. One bar cut my hunger for hours on my plane ride. That to me is perfect and makes this a very valuable weapon in my dieting arsenal. Hats off to controlled labs, venture bars are e****lent.
andrewski48
Member
Nice to see reps not immediately get defensive to every low rating especially when taste is so subjective.
puccah8808
Legend
I love these bars because they keep me full.
Hyde
Legend
That's how it has to be: everything isn't for everyone, and opinions vary. For every person that says Red Acid is too strong at recommended dosage there will be someone that doubles the dose (not recommended!). We're lifters and supplement users too and we represent CL because we believe they make some great stuff. But that doesn't mean we need to pimp it down your throat - the savvy consumer isn't going to be fooled by that anyway.
We want people to try them, and hopefully enjoy them and buy them - but if not, we want to know why they didn't so we can keep getting better!
ronnycjc
Member
3/5
I finally managed to try a Venture Bar, Coconut Almond flavour yesterday, and I wasn't entirely impressed.
2/5 - Taste & Texture
Upon opening the bar, I found that it was quite greasy. The texture is too chewy for my liking, maybe others will like it. I felt that there was a bit of an artificial coconut taste and couldn't taste much of the almonds despite seeing bits and pieces of almonds in the bar. It took me a while to finish this bar, cause I had to really chew the bar...
5/5 Profile
To be honest, this is the only thing I like about these bars. Macros are top notch, and it's made out of Whey Isolate Protein. No sign of Soy Protein if you are picky about your protein sources.
Overall, I'm disappointed in these bars, I won't be purchasing them again. Maybe these bars aren't for my taste buds, but are more suited for others. This is my honest review and I do use some of CL Products, such as Vitmore etc.
I finally managed to try a Venture Bar, Coconut Almond flavour yesterday, and I wasn't entirely impressed.
2/5 - Taste & Texture
Upon opening the bar, I found that it was quite greasy. The texture is too chewy for my liking, maybe others will like it. I felt that there was a bit of an artificial coconut taste and couldn't taste much of the almonds despite seeing bits and pieces of almonds in the bar. It took me a while to finish this bar, cause I had to really chew the bar...
5/5 Profile
To be honest, this is the only thing I like about these bars. Macros are top notch, and it's made out of Whey Isolate Protein. No sign of Soy Protein if you are picky about your protein sources.
Overall, I'm disappointed in these bars, I won't be purchasing them again. Maybe these bars aren't for my taste buds, but are more suited for others. This is my honest review and I do use some of CL Products, such as Vitmore etc.
Hyde
Legend
Thank you for taking the time to tell us and others what you thought!
PharmAnalyst
Member
1/5
The flavor was ok, but the bars themselves were WAY too thick and chewy. Literally ripped out my bridge work which is going to run several hundred if not closer to a thousand to get fixed. I will never buy controlled labs products again.
The flavor was ok, but the bars themselves were WAY too thick and chewy. Literally ripped out my bridge work which is going to run several hundred if not closer to a thousand to get fixed. I will never buy controlled labs products again.
Hyde
Legend
Whoa, that is a terrible experience - I'm very sorry to hear that.
Sean1332
Legend
I second what Hyde said. That's very unfortunate. I'm sorry to hear.
Shooting you a PM here